The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-02

result, which was accomplished by the Demos
cratic party, the reform fiction has neye$
become reconeiled. Their Modification aftef
the peop's, had refused to indorse this calas
paign q, vile calumny and gross vitupera,
ton, The reform party, realizing that they
could not a second time Insult the self.
@ i tie sctcs Of 1881 and the sa r
formers are now actually telling the people
that Gov. McEneryis an honest man, that hs
- man OF integrity, end they alo proffers
ing oe eb ca 81 good character to e very
guilty of every heinous ofiense which 3
commit.
Since his election by the people he has had
an administration which is noS drawing to
9 close. There has been. no concealnleat
from the people of any of his official acts:
Tbs policies and measures, and principles OF
his administration have been open to the
most yigaHt criticism OF his biterest
shortcomings, if he has made mistakes, If he
has been guilty of wrong-doing. if he has
been false to any pledge that he has qvss
made, or has been. recreant to any duty
upon him, if be has defanited in pepnlar Cd
| TEEN, or has been deficient to the detrinienf
Of any interest of the State, the reform
Democracy haye certainly had q good opporss
tunity to ssssil his adminstrstion BY expos,
| no longer coniide in his executive ability and
executive integrity. When
THE NICHOLS CAMPAIGN
was inargurated the people had right to
| demand what measure or policy, what griett
snce or abuse, the reform party intended q
form, nothing to uproot, nothing to did
abnse, as would seem to be the case from Tho
| fact that no great questions of public policy,
or teformatory policy, have been discussed
| ny Vhe reform orators, what can be the m4-
tive, the people will ask, of those who are at
tempting to convulse the Democratic party
by this unnecessary and hurtful agitation.
which may imperil the supremacy of white
government in our State.
itls astonishing how quickly the groundlS
shifted by the reform orators, Is each assault
they make against the McEnery administrai
| ton IL successfully repulsed. Gov. McEnert
entered the lists at Monroe, and even thcsb
who believed thft they had watched the prot
gress OF his administration and were ad-
quainted with It's beneficial results We're as
founded at the account which he gave of hiA
stewardship, the tremendous strides which
our State has made in the march OF material
progress, the economical and efficient ad-
ninistration OF every department in the
State government. the steady and Intelligent
growth of every available resource, the en-.
conragement ard development of every nss
| telial interest. So vast ls our improvement
that Louisiana can challenge any of her sister
States to present an administration which
has been more efficient, economical and
statesmal.like than the present adninis-
tration Of Gov. McEnery. Never have the
future that awaits them. Never has tLeir
spirit of enterprise. received stronger. i'm
pulse. Never have they been more ambitious
to grasp at grander developments. Never
have they felt themse Ives better equipped to
struggle successfully IL, the rivalry of pros
perona States. Four more years OF such an
administration and every speck Of gloom or
distruat will be dissipated from our midst. 1t
means increase Ut population, increase Of
traction to our borders Of all those elements
which have made States prosperous and
powerful. Let it be remembered by the
people that we are not INDUCING in mere
prophecy or vain promises, thus ls no e1pe-
iBiana. The results OF Gov. McEnerys adj
ni,listrstion have been submitted to the
Judgment Of his constituents. AssaiIed as
the Chief Executive OF this State, he has in no
boastful spirit exposed to public criticism the
snlt to the intelligence of the people for the
reform orators to decline to discuss With him
those grave questions affecting the welfare
and destiny of the State. Ii the Arguments
he has presented remain unanswered and np.
refuted, if the challenge that he has boldly
thrown to his opponents remains ,lnaccepted,
if the wisdom OF his policy remains urcon-
troverted, if his statements remain uncOn-
|
ministrstion remains unimpeachcd, then the
Reform Democracy are driven to their last
shelter, the tiimsy and preposterous argu.
ment OF a third term and personal govern-
ment.
!, There il no principle involved in the ques-
ton whether an individual shall be elected
twice 10 the Office of Governor, for the simple
reason that under no circumstances can q
, Governor, restrained and controlled as he is
bya written constitution, jsopardi2e or en-
dang the liberties of the pe0ple.- Tt liz Only
A QUESTION OF ExPEDIEScY
to be determined by the people. II they con-
. slider that their security and interests can be
subservcd by such course, no amount VI
oratory, however vehement or brilliant, can
create impaein.Ey dangers, In many ,n stSte =
be true that the terms of the Governor's
Office is shorter than it is in this State. The
demarcations surrounding the Executive
, functions and duties are too precisely defined
; in our State Constitution TO excite the
slightest apprehension that Governor. even
if SO disposed. can subyert the liberties Of
the people, or use his Office to their detri-
ment and escape punishment
When the accusation is made against Gov.
: NcEnery that he is conducting
PERSONAL GOVERNMENT,
it is difficult to understand what is meant.
/, According to all preccdents, according to
English history, q personal government
means where the Executive has trieu to over.
!, shadow and usurp TIKI legislative power.
Under our written constitutions it is impos-
!. sible for the Governor Of State to establish
a personal government. He can only do 50
!. negatively by abusing the veto power, and
!, thus prevent the representatives of the peo-
mEn 5em sss sadou 81 a1odea M e Ge
: else Of the veto power. as he has uFed it only
in extremely rare cases. Under his admins,
trstion the legislative power. has remained
All tod tr,n Sa1Nl sl
: government as against the growing and in.
y creasing power Of the House OF Commons,
, . He wanted to restore the kingly prerogatiyel
. that had been wIested from the throne u
!. earlier periods. The only way that he could
: upon a members e Of The the HOUSE Of Commons Coz mons
;, For that purpose he made twe-thirds of the
= House of Commons his subseryient, tools
= but this power cahnos be exercised by the
. provides that no person shall hold or exercise
: at the same. time, more than one office Of
/ trust or profit except that OF justice OF tn
y :, peace or notary public.
I 1t is Impossible therefore for the Executiy,
y government, nor can he do it indirectly b!
y making the members of the Legislature thu
benefciaries Of his executive favor or patron
age; That is the only proper sense il which
10 can ue accused of establishing or conducting
l. personal government. and every safeguard
g against such an attempt is provided in on
J. organic law, and it would be absurd unde
If our system of government for Governor 4
n attempt, to, set up his individual vii! or hi
It personal views against the written dictate
It of the laws of this State. If BY persona
e government Is meant that GOV. McEnery ha
i. appointed his friends TO Office, he has onl.
a done what every Governor in this countr,
e has always done and will always do, and sucl
@ complaint as justification for a campaign
d agaiDsta Democratic Governor should recoi
= upon its authors as puerlle and senseless.
j. Bet this charge cannot be substantiated Z
is the extent OF elevating 1t to serious crit
1t cisn. In many cases he has consulted tn
l. wishes of his opponents and tratucers. be
d lieying that the wishes of the people SHOULD
o be consulted, although the Constitution ant
n Io,yu oopferrad upnn hin, fhn ahsolafe pOwa